Somerville Says NO To Protected Bike Lanes On Powder House Blvd

From the email:

The city published an update Friday evening saying that Powder House Blvd will not get protected bike lanes this year. Instead they will paint a single painted bike lane in only one direction and that’s it. This decision unacceptably sacrifices the safety of people biking on Powder House Blvd. They say they will use temporary paint for the bike lane and revisit the decision in 12 months, but this decision will not be any easier to make then, and could be easily further delayed without notice.

Please email transportation@somervillema.gov, [email protected], [email protected], and CC somerville@cambridgebikesafety.org. Say that protected bike lanes save lives and that you are disappointed and angry with their decision on Powder House Blvd. Also, since election season is just starting to heat up, it is a great time to tell elected officials that safe streets are important for your vote in the election this November. There is also a meeting on July 31 @ 6:30pm at the West Somerville Neighborhood School on Powder House Blvd if you want to hear city staff explain their decision or voice your frustration in person.

We have to voice our anger now so that city officials feel a backlash at least as bad as any backlash from removing parking. Volunteers have spent many hours working on this project, talking to residents and stakeholders. We cannot make it easy for the city to throw away this hard work. When city officials avoid building protected bike lanes they must hear from all of us how disappointed we are with them.

As you may have heard a woman from Somerville was killed crossing Mystic Ave near the Stop and Shop in a hit and run crash. While this street is owned by MassDOT and not the City of Somerville, this tragedy should be a wake-up call to city staff that taking shortcuts on safety infrastructure can have terrible consequences. Advocates have complained about this intersection repeatedly and MassDOT has a project scheduled for safety improvements — unfortunately too late for her. Safety improvements always seem to come too little and too late. That’s why it is so important for the city to make the right decision when it can. And that is why we need to write to city officials and voice out anger with their decision.

Please email city officials and tell them that protected bike lanes save lives and that you are disappointed with their decision not to build protected bike lanes on Powder House Blvd. There are many Somerville residents on this list and we can make a big impact when we all speak up.

Sincerely,

-your neighbors at Cambridge Bicycle Safety

Add to Reddit.

Tweet

Cambridge Bike Safety Update

From the email:

This week there are two ways you can take action to help improve bicycle safety in Cambridge: (a) ask your employer to sign our business platform; (b) donate to help start a cycling program for seniors and people with disabilities in Cambridge. We also have an update on last week’s policy orders and the S Mass Ave protected bike lane below.

Employer campaign

The employer campaign is off to a great start! We have had a lot of interest from businesses who want show that they want their employees to be safe commuting to and from work. Most notably Microsoft and Cambridge Health Alliance have signed onto our business platform over the past week!

But we want to give a special mention to Shoobx who went above and beyond and also emailed the city in support of protected bike lanes. Thank you Shoobx! See the end of this email for more information about them.

Employers are often very supportive of safe bike infrastructure, they just need a way to show it. The employer campaign gives them an opportunity to show how supportive they are to a wide audience and it helps us in showing the city that bike infrastructure is good for business. See here for instructions for talking to your employer about our business platform.

Donate to help start Cycling Without Age in Cambridge

We believe people of all ages should enjoy biking around the city and Cycling Without Age makes this a reality, by offering chauffeured tricycle rides around the city to the elderly and people with disabilities.

Manny Lusardi is trying to start a branch of Cycling Without Age in Cambridge. He writes: “For 2 1/2 years or so, I was paralyzed from mid chest down. One of the activities I missed the most was a simple bike ride. Biking again after years of rehab and hard work, made me realize how much other’s, especially the elderly and those living with a disability, would simply appreciate a slow bike ride through our community. My hope is to bring this dream to reality and help the elderly and those living with physical disabilities enjoy what many of us take for granted.”

Donate here to help the elderly and people with disabilities feel the joy of getting around the city on a bike! Cycling Without Age Cambridge is a 501c3 organization and donations are tax deductible. This is a wonderful program and hopefully we can help Manny get it off the ground in Cambridge.

Bike Network Implementation Plan & River St Policy Orders

Last week the city council received many emails from all of us in support of a protected bike lane on River Street and funding for an implementation plan for the protected network. And both votes passed easily!

The only reason an implementation plan for a protected bike network is on the table is our collective support for it and pressure on city leadership. When we gather in rallies or turn out to council meetings in large numbers, or when we write emails to the council en masse, it makes a real difference. Our rallies and emails show supportive city councillors that they are making a safe choice supporting protected bike lanes. They show skeptical councillors that it is unpopular to oppose safety on the roads. And they shows the rest of the city government that this is what the public really wants. Please feel heartened – and make it a habit of showing up and writing in early and often in support of these measures as we move ahead.

South Mass Ave

The quick build implementation of a protected bike lane started last week on Mass Ave between Sidney Street and Memorial Drive and should be in place by next week. The city made a wise decision choosing this section for protection as it is heavily travelled and has a high crash rate. Thank you to the city government for your work! We look forward to riding this section very soon.

Add to Reddit.

Tweet

Cambridge Bike Safety Update

from the email:

We wanted to update you on a few new action items for safer streets but first, a reminder about our petition campaign! We want to show city officials that people throughout Cambridge support a safe, connected network of protected bike lanes. Sign the petition here if you haven’t already and share widely!

1. Act Now for a Protected Lane on River Street – and an Implementation Plan for the Citywide Network

This Monday, there are two key bike related items on the Council’s agenda.

First, the City Manager is requesting funds to update the implementation plan of the bike network (see the second ask on our petition!) Additionally, there is also a request for a protected bike lane on River Street. Take action, more details below.

ACTION → Email [email protected], [email protected], and cc [email protected] and [email protected] and (1) request the council to approve the budget allocation for an implementation plan for the citywide bike network, and (2) let them know that the reconstruction of River Street MUST include a safe, protected bike lane.

If you can make it please show up on Monday Nov 5, 5:30pm at City Hall to speak in support of the budget item and policy order. Sign up to speak here or in person.

The implementation plan for a citywide bike network is potentially quite important, as this could provide a blueprint for implementation of the full bike network within 5 years, as our petition requests. We need to make sure that the council approves this budget item, and that the implementation plan the City comes back with lays out how a complete, safe, connected network of protected bike lanes across the city can be built ASAP.

The city is rebuilding River Street in 2020 and they have the opportunity to include a protected bike lane. Since River Street goes inbound it would complement the Western Ave protected lane, providing a key connection to and from the Charles River paths.

On Monday November 5th the City Council will vote on a policy order specifically requesting a protected bike lane as part of the River Street reconstruction. The order was originally scheduled for this week but it was delayed by Councilor Simmons.

Also, as part of the redesign, they will be forming a working group of stakeholders and thank you to everyone who applied to help advocate for safe bike and pedestrian infrastructure!

2. Ask your employer to sign on to our business platform

Local business support can be crucial in getting safe bike infrastructure built. Many employers recognize that a protected bike lane network would be a great asset to Cambridge as well as providing safe transportation for their customers and employees. All we need to do is ask for their support!

If you work in Cambridge, see here for instructions to ask your employer to sign onto our business platform supporting safe bike infrastructure.

3. Other updates:

• Read the beautiful remembrance written by friends of JJ Zhao who was tragically struck and killed by a dump truck driver in early October while she was walking at Putnam Ave and Magazine St.
• World Day of Remembrance: This Nov 18 is the World Day of Remembrance. Come to the State House in Boston at 2pm to mourn the people who were killed on our streets this year. Last year’s event was a powerful reminder that the number of pedestrians and cyclists who were killed is much higher than you expect and that urgent action is needed to correct this public health crisis. After the vigil there will be a bike ride and a march to demand safer streets.
• In addition to signing onto our business platform, two local businesses Industry Lab and Synapse Energy Economics also took the additional crucial step of emailing the city to express how important a protected bike lane network is to them (read Synapse Energy Economics’ statement here). Thanks Industry Lab and Synapse Energy Economics for supporting safe bike infrastructure!

Industry Lab is a co-working space located in the vibrant hub of Inman Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Inhabiting nearly 20,000 square feet of a historical brick building with wood floors and lots of windows, Industry Lab is a neighborhood for artists, engineers, scientists, and designers to co-exist and collaborate.

Synapse Energy Economics provides research, analysis, expert testimony, reports, regulatory support, and other consulting services related to energy, economics, and the environment.

Add to Reddit.

Tweet

Want to Get Involved? This Thursday – Training, Intro, Meet & Greet

from the email:

The rally last week was amazing! With more than 175 of us gathering on City Hall lawn, we sent a clear message that Cambridge needs to do a lot more to make its streets safe for those biking and walking. But there’s a lot more work to do to make this a reality.

If you’re feeling energized by the rally, or if you had to miss it but want to get involved in pushing for a safe and equitable transportation system in Cambridge, we are holding a fun introductory event this week that you don’t want to miss: “CBS 101”. Come meet others pushing for safe streets, learn about Cambridge Bike Safety’s history and current efforts, and find out how you can get involved in ways large and small.

What: CBS 101 – Intro, Training, and Meet & Greet
When: This Thursday, Oct 25, 7-8:30pm
Where: The Democracy Center, 45 Mount Auburn St in Cambridge

RSVP on the Facebook event and share it with friends who might be interested.

Sincerely,
CBS Core

P.S. Check out coverage of the rally in the Cambridge Chronicle and Cambridge Day.

Add to Reddit.

Tweet

Rally For Safer Bike Lanes TONIGHT 6pm, City Hall

From Cambridge Bike Safety:

Today is the day! Cambridge Bicycle Safety invites you to join us at 6:00 pm TONIGHT at City Hall, Wednesday October 17th, for the Rally for Safer Bike Lanes, our most important bike safety event of the year.

To show why this matters we will be putting 160 bikes on the City Hall lawn to represent how many times each year first responders are called to a crash when a person on a bike is hit by a car.

• RSVP now on facebook and show up at 6pm.
• Bring your bike and bike lights!
• Invite friends and family who support completing the network of protected bike lanes.

At the rally we’ll be officially launching a petition campaign to complete a city-wide network of protected bike lanes in five years and you’ll have the opportunity to hear the stories of people from all walks of life in Cambridge who bike and walk.

A citywide network of protected bike lanes would make 40% of crashes physically impossible, and many others less likely. The infrastructure changes we’re advocating for will also make the city safer for pedestrians to navigate and help avoid tragedies such as this year’s.

Join us in showing city officials that there is widespread support for implementing these lanes in order to create a safe, city-wide protected network that serves residents of all ages and abilities.

We look forward to seeing you tonight!

Add to Reddit.

Tweet